Movie review: Hotel Rwanda

Totally depressing movie about a horrible place, but completely engrossing. Africa is one place I have no desire to visit and the movie gave me one more reason to leave it off my vacation's list. Don Cheadle gives an Oscar worthy performance and we even get to see one of the great screamers, Nick Nolte too. I felt for the folks in Rwanda and hope the unfortunate souls in Darfur can escape a similar situation that is happening right now. I can understand why world superpowers don't want to jump into every conflict that happens since it could mean a never ending occupation of some sort, but it's a tough pill to swallow for those caught behind enemy lines. I just hope that the people of the totalitarian states rise up against the oppressors and create a democracy for their country.

Too cool

Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, gave every fan in attendance on "Fan Appreciation Night" a free American Airlines ticket! Now that's the way you do it!

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TRAVEL/04/20/mavericks.plane.tickets.ap/

Great post - a MUST READ

For those that don't already know, I'm a big supporter of the war in Iraq and recommend reading the Mudville Gazette site (http://www.mudvillegazette.com/) daily to get the real scoop from the folks with boots on the ground.

There are great stories and posts all the time, but this one was especially moving: http://abountifullife.blogspot.com/2006/04/coin-its-smaller-aircraft-with-only.html.

All I can say is "thank you" to all those who serve. I have a good deal of regret in my life and one right at the top is not enlisting. I have a family now and one of our children has Down Syndrome, so I thought joining up now would put a great undue strain on our family. I only hope I can relate my gratitude to my country to my daughter Gabrielle and inspire her to join and give something back to our country that has given all of us so much.

Global Warming panic...

I've always been skeptical about the whole global warming theory as any right thinking American would be when told that we are hurting the fragile environment. I believe that the theory is vastly overstated and extremely egotistical to think that we are changing the climate. The Earth has been around a long time and I seriously doubt that we can do any real damage by driving an SUV. I'm currently reading Michael Crichton's State of Fear, great book, and it's full of researched material that he uses to back up his plotline. I understand that the book is a work of fiction, but it's pretty clear that the author did a good deal of research to disprove a number of the popular theories.

Funny that I should come across an article linked to the Drudge Report this morning that backs up Crichton's book and my belief: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2006/04/09/do0907.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/04/09/ixworld.html

It shall be interesting to see who's right at least in my lifetime...

More on the immigration issue...

Two more follow up items about the immigration issue - on the Drudge Report this morning was this ludicrous story about banning red, white, and blue in school: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/8439483/detail.html. The school claimed that they didn't just ban the good old US of A's colors, but all nationalities colors since students were using them to taunt each other. How about correcting the behavior instead? Too much to ask?

Another thought is about Mexico re-taking California: http://latino.sscnet.ucla.edu/research/docs/struggle/aztlan.htm. Yes, there are some folks who think that the US should give back what it "stole" from Mexico. If these idiots really think they have a chance, I say bring it on. I believe we would unleash hell as my man Russell Crowe so aptly said on Mexico and then erect a wall that would make the old East Berlin wall look as if it was made out of Lincoln Logs. Heck, if it comes to that, we should push all the way down and turn Mexico into new resort states. I'm sure Florida would appreciate it, ha-ha.

Movie reviews: History of Violence and Street Smart

Both really good movies. History is a great dark drama with superb acting throughout. Really great story. Street Smart is a great throwback to the movies of the 80's starring two great actors: Morgan Freeman and the late Christopher Reeve. Reeve plays a magazine writer who wants to write a piece about a real pimp, Freeman. I won't spoil the plot, but it's well worth picking up.

On a side note, it's cool that everyone remembers Reeve from Superman, but that diminishes his acting chops in other great movies like Deathtrap. I highly recommend picking up Deathtrap because it's one of my favorite dramas and highly entertaining.